HTC One running ‘stock Android’ coming June 26

Following Samsung’s lead, HTC will begin selling next month a version of its flagship smartphone, the HTC One, with Google’s “stock Android” operating system.

The phone will be sold starting June 26 for $599 in a version that will work with AT&T; and T-Mobile networks.

The stock phone caters to users who want the default version of Android and not the versions that have been modified by phone manufacturers.

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The stock versions were reserved for Google’s own line of Nexus smartphones and tablets, but earlier this month, Google announced that it would begin selling the Samsung Galaxy S 4 running stock Android. That device is also set to go on sale June 26 -- it will cost $650.

Since they launched last month, the GS4 and the HTC One have been the top-selling Android smartphones on the market. Samsung is winning the battle thus far with more than 10 million GS4 units sold in less than one month. More than 5 million HTC One units have been sold.

The two devices will duke it out June 26 when their stock Android versions go on sale through Google Play.

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